Learn To Code, Get Hired

Does the thought of spending your days building the iPhone app of tomorrow make your heart swell? Are you looking to increase your job prospects, or earn a higher salary? Then it’s time you started learning to code.

Programming skills are a hot commodity and only going to grow more in demand.

Jobs involving computer science skills are growing at a lightning pace, but many employers are struggling to find employees with the right skill sets. According to the Brookings Institution, job openings for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) jobs take longer to fill than jobs in any other field, though they are among the highest-paying. This is by no means a sign that workers aren’t trying to get jobs in tech. The need for employment is strong, with unemployment levels around the world remaining high since the recession. The unemployment rate across the Eurozone, for example, was at 11.5% and at 6.1%in the U.S in July. The #1 reason those without a job are finding it hard to score one of these numerous coding jobs employers are begging to fill is because many lack the technical competencies necessary for the job. There are simply not enough people who are trained to code!

How to increase your chances of getting a job by learning how to code

What can we do to solve this problem? Well, unless workers start training today, this tech skills gap will only widen. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2020 1.4 million new computer science jobs will exist, but American universities are on track to fill only one-third of those positions. In Europe, too, demand is set to vastly increase while supply falls. The European Commission estimates that between 730,000 and 1.3 million information and communications technology positions will open up across Europe by 2020, but the number of computer science graduates in Europe has been steadily decreasing since 2006. Unless workers (that means you!) start training to code now, a huge portion of these positions will go unfilled. This issue is not limited to tech companies; in fact, the tech skills gap is spreading into every industry. As data-based decision-making becomes increasingly common across all fields, including government offices, hospitals, advertising agencies and more, tech skills are becoming essential tools for scoring many jobs.

So what does this mean for you?

The tech skills gap means that learning to code will boost your chances of getting a job – and not just any job, but a job you like, and a high-paying one at that!

What you gain when you upgrade your skill set and learn to code

A decent salary, creative fulfillment and a flexible schedule are just the tip of the iceberg when you know how to code. Programming skills are likely to bring you some pretty sweet benefits. In-office recreation centers, unlimited vacation time, self-improvement funds and free professional massages are a few of the freebies you might encounter at a tech company. Think these perks are more than you could ever ask for? Think again. It’s becoming commonplace for technology professionals and IT contractors in the U.S. to earn six-figure salaries.

“There are a lot of reasons to keep one’s technical skills polished — and optimism high,” writes Nick Kolakowski at Dice. Now highly in-demand, programming skills can grant you access to almost any industry that interests you. Yes, you read that right – learning to code can be your “in” not only to traditional tech companies but also to so much more. From jobs at startups and small businesses to long-standing corporations and organizations in the sciences, arts, education, and more, there’s something for everyone who learns how to code. Interested in learning to code, but not so keen on leaving your current employer?

If you aren’t looking to change jobs, programming skills can improve your work life. Your additional tech knowledge will make you more adaptable to new technologies, and your newfound ability to take on more advanced technological tasks will give you an edge. Even if you do not work in a technological role, learning to code will enable you to collaborate with your more techie coworkers and put you in a position to hire techies. In fact, learning to code now, when programming skills are at their prime, will make you indispensable to your company and could even put you in line for a promotion.

As Emma Sinclair, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of EnterpriseJungle, told us, learning new skills will only increase your employability and show that you are a self-starter:

“Whether it’s learning to ‘speak finance’ or how to code, tackling a new skill in sectors at the heart of business can only increase your employability. You don’t have to be a pro, but showing a potential new employer that you recognise learning doesn’t stop at school or college and that you’ve taken time to upgrade your competency in an important field speaks volumes about how motivated you are, especially if you want to change career paths. Smart employers looks for knowledge-hungry people with an ability to learn rather than solely relying on existing know-how.”

How you can learn to code

Ready to upgrade your skills and pursue a career in tech? Learn to code at your own pace while you continue in your day job, and focus on the skills you want to learn. Check out CareerFoundry’s Web Development Course to find out where to start. Or read the full-length article here.